Apparatus, systems and methods for levitating and moving objects

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, systems and methods for levitating and moving objects are shown and described herein. The embodiments incorporate a track with lower rails having permanent magnets abutted against each other and aligned such that the upper surface of each of the lower rails has a uniform polarity; and the object with upper rails having permanent magnets aligned with the lower rails and oriented to oppose the polarity of the lower permanent magnets. Ferrous backing plates behind the lower rails and/or the upper rails may be incorporated. Embodiments may also incorporate a third rail of an electroconductive material, and a driving disc positioned near the third rail. Permanent magnets in the driving disc may be rotated with the driving disc in the presence of the third rail to accelerate the upper rails with respects to the lower rails.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/898,536, filed Jul. 2, 2001, now pending, and of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/375,220, filed Apr. 23, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to apparatus, systems and methods for movingobjects. More particularly, the invention relates to levitating,accelerating and decelerating objects with reduced friction andincreased efficiency.

2. Description of the Related Art

Magnetically levitated trains, conveyor systems and related means oftransportation have been attempted many times in the past few decades inan effort to provide more efficient means of transportation forindividuals and cargo. A few examples of such systems can be seen inU.S. Pat. No. 4,356,772 to van der Heide; U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,761 toTotsch; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,029 to Geraghty et al. These systemsoperate on the general property that magnets having like polaritiesrepel each other, and magnets having opposite polarities attract eachother. Notwithstanding the fact that patent applications have been filedfor such systems for decades, a system for moving people and cargo thatis viable under real world conditions has yet to be developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards apparatus, systems and methodsfor levitating and accelerating objects. In particular, embodiments ofthe present invention allow objects to be magnetically levitated andmagnetically accelerated with respect to rails, such as train tracks.

In one embodiment, the system incorporates a number of lower railsspaced laterally apart from each other, and an object having a number ofupper rails aligned with the lower rails. The lower rails have permanentmagnets abutted one against the next and aligned such that the uppersurface of the lower rail has a uniform polarity along its length. Thelower rail also has a ferrous backing plate that electroconductivelycouples the permanent magnets along the length of the track. The upperrails have a number of permanent magnets aligned to oppose the magnetsin the lower rails to levitate the object. The upper rails also have aferrous backing plate electroconductively coupling the permanentmagnets.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises a number of first rails,an object to be transferred, a third rail, and a driving disc. The firstrails each have a number of permanent magnets aligned near its uppersurface. The permanent magnets are oriented to create a uniform polarityalong a length of each of the first rails. The object being transportedhas second rails that are configured to align with the first rails. Thesecond rails have permanent magnets mounted thereon that are oriented tooppose the polarity of the magnets in the first rails. Consequently, theobject levitates above the first rails. The third rail extends along thelength of the first rails. The third rail is made from anelectroconductive material, such as copper or aluminum. The disc isconnected to the object being transported, and rotates with respect tothe object. The disc carries a number of permanent magnets. The disc ispositioned such that the permanent magnets are in close proximity to thethird rail during operation. Rotation of the disc, and more importantlythe permanent magnets, in the proximity of the third rail results ineddy currents that accelerate the object along the third rail in adirection opposite the relative rotation of the disc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a track and a cart levitating above thetrack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the cart of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the cart of FIG. 2 with a platformremoved therefrom.

FIG. 4 is an end view of a portion of the track and cart of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the track and cart of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a drive assembly of the cart of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevation view of a disc from the drive assemblyof FIG. 6 engaged with a third rail of the track of FIG. 1, shown alonga diametric section.

FIG. 8 is a side view of one of the discs of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an end view of a track and a cart from an alternate embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of a portion of the cart of FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cart of FIG. 9, viewed alongSection 10—10.

FIG. 11A is a schematic view of the portion of the cart of FIG. 10,shown in a disengaged configuration.

FIG. 11B is the portion of the cart of FIG. 11A, shown in an engagedconfiguration.

FIG. 12 is an end view of a portion of the track and cart of FIG. 9,illustrating a braking system in a disengaged configuration.

FIG. 13 is the portion of the track and cart of FIG. 12, shown with thebraking system in an engaged configuration.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a magnet assembly from the cart of FIG. 9.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the magnet assembly of FIG. 14,viewed along Section 15—15.

FIG. 16 is a plan view schematically illustrating a cart having magnetsaligned for travel around a corner.

FIG. 17 is a plan view schematically illustrating a cart having magnetsaligned for linear travel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The present detailed description is generally directed toward systems,apparatus and methods for levitating a cart or other object above atrack, and for accelerating the object with respect to the track.Several embodiments of the present invention may allow an individual tolevitate an object above a track, and to accelerate and decelerate theobject, all without contacting the track. Accordingly, such embodimentscan provide highly efficient transportation means for individuals orcargo. Many specific details of certain embodiments of the invention areset forth in the following description and in FIGS. 1-17 to provide athorough understanding of such embodiments. One skilled in the art,however, will understand that the present invention may have additionalembodiments or may be practiced without several of the details describedin the following description.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 for levitating and accelerating objects.The system 10 incorporates a track 12 and a cart 14 configured to movelongitudinally in either direction with respect to the track. The track12 incorporates a pair of supporting rails 16 and a driving rail 18.

In the illustrated embodiment, the supporting rails 16 and the drivingrail 18 are supported by a number of footings 20 spaced apart from eachother along a length of track 12. The footings 20 are anchored to theground as generally understood in the art. The driving rail 18 in theillustrated embodiment is mounted directly to the footings 20, such asby a flange formed at the lower edge of the driving rail. Theillustrated driving rail 18 is centrally located along the length ofeach of the footings 20. Depending on the particular design of the cart14, however, it is envisioned that the driving rail 18 can be positionedat other locations inside, outside, above and below the supporting rails16, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the relevantart.

In the illustrated embodiment, the supporting rails 16 are coupled tothe footings 20 by a number of posts 22 and brackets 24, and extendalong opposing ends of the footings. As with the driving rail 18,however, different configurations are possible, as one of ordinary skillin the art would appreciate.

The upper surface of each of the supporting rails 16 carries a number ofpermanent magnets 26 extending along an operable portion of its length.In the illustrated embodiment, the permanent magnets 26 in thesupporting rails 16 are all of a common length. The illustratedpermanent magnets 26 are butted against each other along the length ofthe track 12 to provide a magnetic force that is sufficiently constantto enable the cart 14 to move smoothly along the track. The permanentmagnets 26 are oriented such that every magnet along the respectivesupporting rail 16 has its polarity vertically aligned with the adjacentpermanent magnets. The inventor appreciates that it is not necessarythat every permanent magnet 26 be aligned in order for the invention tooperate. The illustrated embodiment, however, is provided as an exampleof one preferred embodiment.

FIGS. 2 and 3 best illustrate the cart 14 according to this particularembodiment of the present invention. The cart 14 incorporates a pair ofopposing side rails 28 spaced apart to generally align with thesupporting rails 16 on the track 12. In the illustrated embodiment, theside rails are made from a ferrous material such as steel. Othermaterials of like qualities can be substituted for steel.

Attached to the underside of each of the side rails 28 is another set ofpermanent magnets 30 that align with the permanent magnets 26 on thesupporting rails 16 when the cart 14 is engaged with the track 12. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the permanent magnets 30 in the side rails28 are all of a common length. The length of each permanent magnet 26 inthe supporting rail 16 is different, in this case longer, than thelength of the permanent magnet 30 in the side rail 28. One of ordinaryskill in the art, after reviewing this disclosure, will immediatelyappreciate that the difference in length prevents two adjacent seams inthe support rail permanent magnets 26 from simultaneously aligning withtwo adjacent seams in the side rail permanent magnets 30, thus avoidingmagnetic cogging. The permanent magnets 30 on the cart 14 are orientedwith their polarities opposite to those of the permanent magnets 26 ofthe supporting rails 16. As a result, the cart 14 levitates above thetrack 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the permanent magnet 30attached to the side rails 28 are abutted one against the next. Theinventor appreciates, however, that these permanent magnets need not bein contact with each other for the cart 14 to have a smooth ride overthe track 12.

The cart 14 has a platform 32 (FIG. 2) for carrying individuals orobjects. The present invention can be configured for carrying cargo orpeople and, as a result, the platform 32 can have a wide variety ofconfigurations. For example, platform 32 can be in the shape of a traincar or a cargo container. Likewise, the platform 32 and the cart 14 canbe sized for carrying only small objects.

The sides of the cart 14 have a number of rollers 36 spaced apartlengthwise along the cart. Rollers 36 are positioned to contact thesupporting rails 16 should the cart move out of proper alignment withthe track 12. The rollers 36 rotate about vertical axes, andconsequently do not significantly affect the movement of the cart 14along the track 12. It is envisioned by the inventor that a wide varietyof means can be substituted for the rollers 36 to keep the cart 14centered along the track 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a battery 38, a motor 40 and a driving disc 42are housed within this particular cart 14. The illustrated battery 38 isa 12-volt battery similar to one currently used in an automobile. Theinventor appreciates, however, that a wide variety of power sources canbe substituted for the battery 38, such as a fuel cell.

The motor 40 is coupled to the driving disc 42 by a belt 44. Theinventor similarly appreciates, however, that the motor 40 and belt 44can take other configurations, so long as the driving disc 42 can becontrollably rotated to accelerate or decelerate the cart 14 withrespect to the track 12. An onboard control system 45 (FIG. 6) isincorporated to allow a user to controllably accelerate and deceleratethe rotation of the driving disc 42 to control the velocity andacceleration of the cart 14.

FIG. 4 illustrates the relative orientation of the permanent magnets 30on the side rails 28 of the cart 14 when engaged with the track 12. Asdiscussed above, the polarity of the permanent magnets 30 is oppositethe polarity of the permanent magnets 26. In addition, in thisparticular embodiment, the lateral dimension of the permanent magnets 30is greater than the lateral dimension of the permanent magnets 26. Theinventor appreciates that these permanent magnets 26, 30 can have thesame dimensions, or the permanent magnets 26 could be larger than thepermanent magnets 30. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate,however, that when the magnets are of the same width, as seen in theprior art, additional lateral support and/or controls are necessary tomaintain optimal lateral stability between the magnets. On the contrary,in the illustrated embodiment, the magnetic footprint of the uppermagnet 30 is wider than that of the lower magnet 26, naturally providingadditional lateral stability.

A ferrous backing material 46 is positioned under the permanent magnets26 in the supporting rail 16. As with the side rails 28, the ferrousbacking material 46 can be steel or an equivalent materials. The backing46 extends along the length of the side rail 16.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5, a driving pulley 48 on the motor 40operates the belt 44 to rotate a driven pulley 50 attached to thedriving disc 42. The motor 40 is mounted on a cross-member 52, which isin turn mounted to the cart 14. Similarly, the driving disc 42 ismounted to an underside of the cross-member 52. The driving disc 42 isrotatably mounted on a pair bearings 54 to rotate with respect to thecart 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the third rail 18 has a neck 56 and a flange58. The flange 58 is mounted to the footing 20 to retain the third rail18 in a fixed alignment with respect to the track 12. The neck 56 is inthe form of a flat plate extending the length of the track 12. Thedriving disc 42 in the illustrated embodiment has a pair of magnetrotors 60, spaced one on each side of the neck 56 of the third rail 18.Each of the magnet rotors 60 has a non-ferrous mounting disc 62 backedby a ferrous backing disc 64, preferably of mild steel. The mountingdiscs 62 may be aluminum or a suitable non-magnetic composite, and eachis fabricated with a number of permanent magnets 66 spaced apart fromeach other and arranged in a circle about a shaft 68 carrying thedriving disc 42. Each of the permanent magnets 66 abuts on the outsideof the driving disc 42 against the respective backing disc 64. Adjacentpermanent magnets 66 may have their polarities reversed. The permanentmagnets 66 are each spaced by an air gap 70 from the neck 56.

The mounting discs 62 are mounted to the shaft 68 to rotate in unisonwith the shaft. Rotation of the driving disc 42 with respect to the neck56 results in relative movement between the permanent magnets 66 and theneck in a direction generally tangential to the driving disc. Thistangential direction aligns with the length of the track. As isgenerally known in the industry, relative movement between a permanentmagnet and an electroconductive material results in an eddy currenturging the electroconductive material to follow the permanent magnets.In the present case, however, because the electroconductive material inthe neck 56 is fixed to the footing 20, the electroconductive materialcannot follow the permanent magnets. Instead, an equal and oppositeforce is exerted on the cart which carries the permanent magnets 66.This opposing force accelerates the cart in a direction opposite to themovement of the permanent magnets 66. Accordingly, controlled rotationof the driving disc 42 with respect to the neck 56 can accelerate ordecelerate the cart 14 with respect to the track 12.

It also understood in the industry that adjustable gap couplings can beused to increase and decrease the resultant forces between the permanentmagnets 66 and the neck 56. The inventor incorporates herein byreference U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,317; U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,258; and U.S.Pat. No. 6,242,832 in their entireties to disclose various structuresthat can be used to adjust the spacing between the permanent magnets 66and the neck 56. Further, the inventor appreciates that a single magnetrotor 62 can be used instead of a pair of magnet rotors.

Embodiments of the present invention have numerous advantages overconveyance systems of the prior art. For example, the aligned polaritiesin the tracks and the ferrous backing material combine to create apowerful and consistent magnetic force which allows substantial weightto be carried and allows for smooth movement as the weight istransported along the track. Similarly, ferrous backing materialincorporated into the side rails of the cart provides like benefits.

In addition, the magnetic driving disc contained on the cart allows forclosely controlled, efficient acceleration and deceleration. Because thedriving disc does not contact the third rail, there is no wear betweenthe two parts. Further, because the driving disc is contained on thecart, each cart can be independently controlled to accelerate anddecelerate along the track.

FIGS. 9 and 9A illustrate a track 112 and a cart 114 according toanother embodiment of the present invention. In general, the cart 114and track 112 illustrated in FIG. 9 operate similar to that describedabove and illustrated in FIGS. 1-8. In particular, however, the guidancesystem and the drive system are both different than those describedabove. Accordingly, to the extent elements, features and advantages arenot discussed below, they can be assumed to be similar to or identicalto those described above.

In the illustrated embodiment, 9 drive rail 118 incorporates a flange158 and a neck 156, similar to those described above. In addition, acover plate 157 is positioned over opposing sides of the neck 156 andextends along the length of the drive rail 118. In this particularembodiment, the neck 156 and flange 158 are manufactured from steel,while the cover plate 157 is manufactured from aluminum. The inventorsappreciate, however, that the cover plate 157 can be made from any otherconductive material, the neck 156 can be made from any other material,preferably a ferrous material such as steel, and the flange 158 can bemade from any suitable material. In the illustrated embodiment, thealuminum in the cover plate 157 serves as a conductor for a set of lowermagnet rotors 142, and the steel in the neck 156 serves as a ferrousbacking plate for each of the opposing cover plates.

As with the above embodiment, the lower magnet rotors 142 are positionedon opposing sides of the drive rail 118, and are operable to accelerateand decelerate the cart 114 with respect to the track 112. In thisparticular embodiment, however, two pairs of opposing lower magnetrotors 142 are positioned one pair in front of the other along the driverail 118 (best illustrated in FIG. 10). Each pair of lower magnet rotors142 rotates about a lower shaft 168 to create relative movement betweenthe lower magnet rotor 142 and the drive rail 118 and accelerate ordecelerate the cart 114 with respect to the track 112.

As seen in FIG. 10, each lower shaft 168 has a sheave 159 fixed theretoto rotate the lower magnet rotor 142 in response to movement of ahorizontal belt 161. The horizontal belts 161 are driven by a centralpulley 163, which is in turn driven by a vertical belt 165. Unlike theprior embodiment, where the belt is driven directly by the motor 40, thevertical belt 165 in the present embodiment is driven by a pair of uppermagnet rotors 167. These upper magnet rotors 167 share an upper shaft169 and an upper pulley 171, which drives the vertical belt 165.

Rotation of the upper magnet rotors 167 about the upper shaft 169results in rotation of the upper pulley 171, which in turn drives thevertical belt 165, rotating the central pulley 163. Rotation of thecentral pulley 163 drives the opposing horizontal belts 161, each ofwhich drives a sheave 159 on one of the pairs of lower shafts 168.Rotation of the lower shaft 168 results in rotation of both pairs oflower magnet rotors 142. As discussed above, rotation of the magnetrotors 142 with respect to the drive rail 118 results in acceleration ordeceleration of the cart 114 with respect to the track 112.

The velocity and power of the magnet rotors 167 is adjusted throughaxial movement of an opposing pair of conductor rotors 173 positioned toface the upper magnet rotors 167 from opposing sides. The conductorrotors 173 and opposing upper magnet rotors 167 function similar toadjustable gap couplings known in the art. As such, the torquetransferred from the conductor rotors 173 to the upper magnet rotors 167is varied by changing the size of a gap 175 therebetween. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the gap 175 in the coupling on theleft end of the upper shaft 169 is greater than the gap on the right endof the upper shaft. The inventors appreciate that the two couplingscooperate to drive the upper shaft 169, and that the opposing couplingscan be adjusted independently or in combination to increase or decreasethe torque transferred from the conductor rotors 173 to the upper magnetrotors 167.

The gap 175 is adjusted by moving a motor 140 toward or away from theupper magnet rotor 167. The motor 140 has a drive shaft 177 projectingtherefrom that is coupled to the conductor rotor 173. The motor 140 ismounted to the cart 114 at a sliding bushing 179, which moves laterallyalong an adjustment rod 181. The sliding bushing 179 can be moved backand forth along the adjustment rod 181 by a dual-acting air cylinder183. The air cylinder 183 moves the sliding bushing 179 along theadjustment rod 181 between a pair of inner stops 185 and a pair ofopposing outer stops 187. Because the conductor rotors 173 are mountedon the motors 140, axial movement of the motors results in axialmovement of the conductor rotors and, as a result, adjustment of the gap175.

The motors 140 are operated with an actuator, such as a switch 185illustrated in FIG. 9. The illustrated switch 185 is coupled between asource of electricity, such as a battery 187, and the motors 140, andcan be actuated to rotate the motors in either direction to accelerateor decelerate the cart 114 with respect to the track 112.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate the lower magnet rotors 142 disengaged fromthe drive rail 118 and engaged with the drive rail, respectively. Eachlower magnet rotor 142 is linked to the cart 114 by a swing arm 189 thatis pivotally mounted to swing the magnet rotor around a substantiallyhorizontal axis such that the magnet rotor moves vertically to engagewith and disengage from the drive rail 118. A pair of cables 191 arerouted from a winch 193 over pulleys 195, and are controlled by anactuator 197 to adjust the height of each of the lower magnet rotors142.

The magnet rotors 142 can be raised or lowered to compensate for theweight of the payload on the cart 114. In particular, with a heavierpayload, the cart 114 may ride lower on the track 112 and, tocompensate, the magnet rotors 142 could be raised, or vice versa.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrated one particular braking assembly 202according to an embodiment of the present invention. The brakingassembly 202 is illustrated in the disengaged configuration in FIG. 12and in the engaged configuration in FIG. 13.

The brake assembly 202 incorporates a pneumatic piston 204, an actuator206 and a pair of opposing brake levers 208. The pneumatic piston 204 isconnected by a pair of pneumatic lines 210 to a control unit 212. Thecontrol unit 212 directs pressurized air through the pneumatic lines 210to or from the pneumatic piston 204 to pressurize an internal chambertherein (not shown) and to move a piston therein (not shown) axiallywith respect to the pneumatic piston. The actuator 206 is coupled to theinternal piston to move with the internal piston as it is controlled bythe control unit 212.

The brake levers 208 are coupled to the actuator 206 at a pair ofelongated slots 214. When the actuator 206 moves downward, a pin 216 inthe brake lever 208 slides inwardly along the slot 214. As the pin 216moves inwardly along the slot 214, the brake lever 208 pivots around apivot point 218 and the brake pads 220 rotate away from the drive rail118. Likewise, when the actuator 206 moves upward as viewed in FIG. 13,the pins 216 move outward along the slots 214 and the brake levers 208rotate around the pivot points 218 to compress the brakes against thedrive rail 118. Because the brake assembly 202 is rigidly attached tothe cart 114, when the brake pads 220 compress against the drive rail118, the cart can be brought to rest with respect to the track 112.

FIGS. 14 through 16 illustrate a magnet assembly 300 and a cart 314configured with such a magnet assembly to facilitate maneuvering thecart around tight corners. As best illustrated in FIG. 15, the magnetassembly 300 incorporates a permanent magnet 302 housed within a slidingcarriage 304 to move laterally within a bracket 306. The slidingcarriage 304 incorporates a body 308 that receives the magnet 303 facingdownward and which has a ferrous backing plate 310 positioned above thebody 308. The permanent magnet 302 contacts the ferrous backing plate310 to increase the effect of the forces exerted by the permanentmagnets onto the opposing magnet in the track (not shown). A pair ofarms 312 connect the sliding carriage 304 to a transverse shaft 314. Abushing 316 is configured to allow the sliding carriage 304 to movealong the length of the transverse shaft 314. A pair of rollers 318 arecoupled to the sliding carriage 304 by respective mounting rods 320. Therollers 318 are retained by compression bearings 322 to their respectivemounting rods 320, which are in turn retained to the sliding carriage304 by respective nuts 324. The compression bearings 322 allow therollers 318 to rotate freely about the mounting rods 320. A sleeve 326positioned between the body 308 and the roller 318 maintains a desiredspacing between the body and roller.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the magnet assemblies 300 are mounted by thebrackets 306 to longitudinal structural members 328 on the cart 313. Thetransverse shafts 314 are oriented substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal structural members 328, such that the magnets assemblies300 are free to move laterally with respect to the cart. The cart 313illustrated in FIG. 16 is configured for moving around a corner. Assuch, the magnet assemblies 300 have moved laterally to conform to thecurved shape of the track 330. Because each magnet assembly 300 is freeto move independent of the other magnet assemblies, the rollers 318 moveeach magnet assembly as necessary to conform to the particular trackshape. The magnet assemblies 300 can be biased, such as by springs orother means, to move into a configuration for driving along a straightlength of track. Likewise, the magnet assemblies 300 can be configuredfor moving without any restriction.

FIG. 17 schematically illustrates the cart 313 of this alternativeembodiment configured for movement along a straight length of track. Themagnets 302 are all aligned with the longitudinal structural members 328to allow the cart 313 to move along the track in a desired alignment.

The applicant appreciates that many modifications and variations can bemade to the embodiments discussed above without diverging from thespirit of the invention. For example, carts can be fabricated with one,two or more driving discs to independently or collectively accelerateand decelerate the cart in the forward and reverse directions. Likewise,more or fewer supporting rails can be incorporated to modify thelevitation forces and weight distribution characteristics of aparticular system. As discussed above, the driving disc and third railcan be positioned in other locations, such as above the cart for“suspended” configurations. Other modifications and variations would beapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the scopeof the invention should be interpreted only based on the claims below.

All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications,U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applicationsand non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/orlisted in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein byreference, in their entirety.

1. A system for magnetically levitating and moving an object, the systemcomprising: a track having a plurality of first rails spaced laterallyapart from each other along a length of the track, each first railcarrying a plurality of permanent magnets having their poles alignedwith each other such that an upper surface of each of the first railshas a uniform polarity along an operable portion of the length; theobject having a plurality of second rails configured to align with thefirst rails, each second rail carrying a plurality of permanent magnetsoriented to oppose the polarity of the permanent magnets in thecorresponding first rail such that the object levitates above the track;a third rail made from an electroconductive material, the third railextending the length of the track; and a disc coupled to the object torotate about a rotary axis with respect to the object, the disc having aplurality of permanent magnets spaced about the rotary axis, the discbeing positionable with a portion thereof in close proximity to thethird rail and being controllably rotatable in the presence of the thirdrail to create an eddy current between the permanent magnets in the discand the electroconductive material of the third rail to accelerate anddecelerate the object with respect to the track wherein the at least onedisc is movably coupled to the object to controllably move between anengaged position in which the permanent magnets in the disc areproximate the third rail, and a disengaged position in which thepermanent magnets in the disc are spaced apart from the third rail by adistance sufficient to effectively eliminate the eddy currenttherebetween.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of firstrails comprises two first rails.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein eachof the plurality of permanent magnets in the first rail is in contactwith the adjacent permanent magnets in the respective first rail.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein a lateral dimension of the permanent magnetsin the first rails is different from a corresponding lateral dimensionof the permanent magnets in the second rails.
 5. The system of claim 1wherein a lateral dimension of the permanent magnets in the first railsis smaller than a corresponding lateral dimension of the permanentmagnets in the second rails.
 6. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a ferrous keeper member in contact with the plurality ofpermanent magnets in at least one of the first rails.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising a first ferrous keeper member in contactwith the plurality of permanent magnets in at least one of the firstrails and a second ferrous keeper member in contact with the pluralityof permanent magnets in at least one of the second rails.
 8. The systemof claim 1, further comprising a ferrous keeper member in contact withthe plurality of permanent magnets in each of the first rails, thekeeper member being positioned on a surface of the permanent magnetsfurthest from the upper surface of the rail.
 9. The system of claim 1wherein the third rail is in the form of an elongated plate and therotary axis is at least substantially perpendicular to the plate.
 10. Asystem for magnetically levitating and moving an object, the systemcomprising: a track having a plurality of first rails spaced laterallyapart from each other along a length of the track, each first railcarrying a plurality of permanent magnets having their poles alignedwith each other such that an upper surface of each of the first railshas a uniform polarity alone an operable portion of the length; theobject having a plurality of second rails configured to align with thefirst rails, each second rail carrying a plurality of permanent magnetsoriented to oppose the polarity of the permanent magnets in thecorresponding first rail such that the object levitates above the track;a third rail made from an electroconductive material, the third railextending the length of the track; a disc coupled to the object torotate about a rotary axis with respect to the object, the disc having aplurality of permanent magnets spaced about the rotary axis, the discbeing positionable with a portion thereof in close proximity to thethird rail and being controllably rotatable in the presence of the thirdrail to create an eddy current between the permanent magnets in the discand the electroconductive material of the third rail to accelerate anddecelerate the object with respect to the track; and, further comprisinga ferrous keeper and an electroconductive cover on each of the firstrails, the keeper being in contact with the plurality of permanentmagnets in each of first rail and being positioned on a surface of thepermanent magnets furthest from the upper surface of each of the firstrail, the cover being positioned over the upper surface of each of thefirst rail.
 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising guide memberscoupled to the track and the object to maintain the object aligned withthe track.
 12. A system for magnetically levitating and moving anobject, the system comprising: a track having a plurality of first railsspaced laterally apart from each other along a length of the track, eachfirst rail carrying a plurality of permanent magnets having their polesaligned with each other such that an upper surface of each of the firstrails has a uniform polarity along an operable portion of the length;the object having a plurality of second rails configured to align withthe first rails, each second rail carrying a plurality of permanentmagnets oriented to oppose the polarity of the permanent magnets in thecorresponding first rail such that the object levitates above the track;a third rail made from an electroconductive material, the third railextending the length of the track; a disc coupled to the object torotate about a rotary axis with respect to the object, the disc having aplurality of permanent magnets spaced about the rotary axis, the discbeing positionable with a portion thereof in close proximity to thethird rail and being controllably rotatable in the presence of the thirdrail to create an eddy current between the permanent magnets in the discand the electroconductive material of the third rail to accelerate anddecelerate the object with respect to the track; and further comprisingguide members coupled to the track and complementary rollers coupled tothe object to maintain the object aligned with the track.
 13. A systemfor magnetically levitating and moving an object, the system comprising:a track having a plurality of first rails spaced laterally apart fromeach other along a length of the track, each first rail carrying aplurality of permanent magnets having their poles aligned with eachother such that an upper surface of each of the first rails has auniform polarity along an operable portion of the length; the objecthaving a plurality of second rails configured to align with the firstrails, each second rail carrying a plurality of permanent magnetsoriented to oppose the polarity of the permanent magnets in thecorresponding first rail such that the object levitates above the track;a third rail made from an electroconductive material, the third railextending the length of the track; a disc coupled to the object torotate about a rotary axis with respect to the object, the disc having aplurality of permanent magnets spaced about the rotary axis, the discbeing positionable with a portion thereof in close proximity to thethird rail and being controllably rotatable in the presence of the thirdrail to create an eddy current between the permanent magnets in the discand the electroconductive material of the third rail to accelerate anddecelerate the object with respect to the track: and further comprisingrollers coupled to the object, the rollers being spaced apart by a gapfrom the rails to maintain the object aligned with the track.
 14. Asystem for magnetically levitating an object, the system comprising: atrack having a plurality of first rails spaced laterally apart from eachother along a length of the track; a first plurality of permanentmagnets coupled to the first rails, the first plurality of permanentmagnets having their poles aligned such that an upper surface of each ofthe first rails has a uniform polarity along an operable portion of thelength, each of the first plurality of permanent magnets in the firstrail being in contact with the adjacent permanent magnets; a ferrousfirst keeper in each first rail contacting the first plurality ofpermanent magnets; the object having a plurality of second rails atleast substantially aligned with a portion of the length of theplurality of first rails; a second plurality of permanent magnetsaligned to oppose the polarity of the permanent magnets in the firstrails such that the object levitates above the track; a ferrous secondkeeper in each second rail contacting the second plurality of permanentmagnets; and further comprising an electroconductive cover, wherein thefirst keeper is positioned on a surface on the first plurality ofpermanent magnets furthest from the upper surface of the rail, and thecover is positioned over the upper surface of the first rail.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14, further comprising a third rail and a drive disc,the third rail made from an electroconductive material and extending thelength of the track, the drive disc being coupled to the object torotate about a rotary axis with respect to the object, the drive dischaving a plurality of permanent magnets spaced about the rotary axis,the drive disc being positionable with a portion thereof in closeproximity to the third rail and being controllably rotatable in thepresence of the third rail to create an eddy current between thepermanent magnets in the drive disc and the electroconductive materialof the third rail to accelerate and decelerate the object with respectto the track.
 16. The system of claim 14 wherein a lateral dimension ofthe first plurality of permanent magnets is different from acorresponding lateral dimension of the second plurality of permanentmagnets.
 17. The system of claim 14 wherein a lateral dimension of thefirst plurality of permanent magnets is smaller than a correspondinglateral dimension of the second plurality of permanent magnets.
 18. Thesystem of claim 14 wherein the first keeper member is positioned on asurface of the first plurality of permanent magnets furthest from theupper surface of the rail.
 19. The system of claim 14, furthercomprising guide members coupled to the track and the object to maintainthe object aligned with the track.
 20. The system of claim 14, furthercomprising guide members coupled to the track and complementary rollerscoupled to the object to maintain the object aligned with the track. 21.The system of claim 14, further comprising rollers coupled to theobject, the rollers being spaced apart by a gap from the rails maintainthe object aligned with the track.
 22. The system of claim 14 whereinthe third rail is in the form of an elongated plate and the rotary axisis at least substantially perpendicular to the plate.
 23. A system formagnetically levitating an object having a plurality of first railsspaced laterally apart from each other, each first rail having a firstplurality of permanent magnets distributed along its length, at leastone of the permanent magnets in each of the first rails having a firstlength between opposing ends in a longitudinal direction aligned withthe first rails, the system comprising: a track having a plurality ofsecond rails positioned to be aligned with the plurality of first railson the object when the object is levitating above the track; a secondplurality of permanent magnets coupled to the second rails, the secondplurality of permanent magnets having their poles aligned such that anupper surface of each of the second rails has a uniform polarity alongan operable portion of the length, each of the second plurality ofpermanent magnets in the second rails being in contact with the adjacentpermanent magnets, and at least one of the permanent magnets in each ofthe second rails having a second length between opposing ends in thelongitudinal direction, the second length being different from the firstlength; and a ferrous keeper contacting the first plurality of permanentmagnets, the ferrous keeper being positioned on a side of the secondplurality of permanent magnets furthest from the upper surface.
 24. Thesystem of claim 23 wherein a lateral dimension of the first plurality ofpermanent magnets is different from a corresponding lateral dimension ofthe second plurality of permanent magnets.
 25. The system of claim 23wherein a lateral dimension of the first plurality of permanent magnetsis smaller than a corresponding lateral dimension of the secondplurality of permanent magnets.
 26. The system of claim 23, furthercomprising an electroconductive cover positioned over the upper surfacesof the second rails.
 27. The system of claim 23, wherein a longitudinaldimension of the second plurality of permanent magnets is shorter than acorresponding longitudinal dimension of the first plurality of permanentmagnets.
 28. A cart for levitating above and moving along a length of atrack, the track having a pair of first rails each having a firstplurality of permanent magnets of aligned polarity thereon, and a thirdrail made of electroconductive material extending along the length ofthe track, the cart comprising: a pair of second rails at leastsubstantially alignable with the pair of first rails; a second pluralityof permanent magnets coupled to the pair of second rails and aligned tooppose the polarity of the permanent magnets in the first rails suchthat the cart levitates above the track, the second plurality ofpermanent magnets being coupled to the pair of second rails in a mannerthat allows at least some of the second plurality of permanent magnetsto move laterally with respect to the respective second rails; a ferrouskeeper contacting the second plurality of permanent magnets; and a disccoupled to the cart to rotate about a rotary axis with respect to thecart, the disc having a plurality of permanent magnets spaced about therotary axis, the disc being positionable with a portion thereof in closeproximity to the third rail and being controllably rotatable in thepresence of the third rail to create an eddy current between thepermanent magnets in the disc and the electroconductive material of thethird rail to accelerate and decelerate the object with respect to thetrack.
 29. The cart of claim 20, further comprising guide memberscoupled to the object to maintain the object aligned with the track. 30.The cart of claim 28, further comprising rollers coupled to the cart,the rollers being positioned to be spaced apart by a gap from the firstrails to maintain the cart aligned with the track.
 31. The cart of claim28 wherein the third rail is in the form of an elongated plate and thewherein rotary axis is aligned to be at least substantiallyperpendicular to the plate.
 32. The cart of claim 28 wherein the secondplurality of permanent magnets are movably coupled to the pair of secondrails.
 33. The cart of claim 28 wherein the second plurality ofpermanent magnets are slidably coupled to the pair of second rails tomove laterally with respect to the respective second rail.
 34. The cartof claim 28 wherein the second plurality of permanent magnets areslidably coupled to the pair of second rails to move laterally withrespect to the respective second rail, and further comprising at leastone guide member coupled to each of the second plurality of permanentmagnets, the at least one guide member being positioned to contact oneof the first rails during operation such that lateral movement of thecart with respect to the track results in lateral movement of at leastone of the second plurality of magnets.
 35. A method for levitating anobject above a track, the method comprising: fixing to the track a firstplurality of permanent magnets with their polarities upwardly aligned;contacting each of the first plurality of permanent magnets with aferrous material; providing the object having a second plurality ofpermanent magnets positioned to align with the track, the secondplurality of permanent magnets having their polarities aligned to opposethe first plurality of permanent magnets, at least some of the secondplurality of permanent magnets being configured to move laterally withrespect to the object; and contacting each of the second plurality ofpermanent magnets with a ferrous material.
 36. A method for levitatingan object above a track and moving the object along the track, themethod comprising: fixing to the track a first plurality of permanentmagnets with their polarities upwardly aligned; contacting each of thefirst plurality of permanent magnets with a ferrous material, at leastone of the first plurality of permanent magnets having a first length;providing an object having a second plurality of permanent magnetspositioned to align with the track, the second plurality of permanentmagnets having their polarities aligned to oppose the first plurality ofpermanent magnets, at least one of the second plurality of permanentmagnets having a second length different from the first length;contacting each of the second plurality of permanent magnets with aferrous material; positioning a rail of electroconductive material alongthe length of the track; and rotating a disc carrying permanent magnetsin the proximity of the rail of electroconductive material such that aneddy force between the rail and the permanent magnets in the disc causethe object to move with respect to the track.
 37. A system formagnetically levitating and moving an object, the system comprising: atrack having at least one first rail extending along a length of thetrack, the at least one first rail carrying a plurality of firstpermanent magnets having their poles aligned with each other such thatan upper surface of each of the first rails has a uniform polarity alongan operable portion of the length, each first permanent magnet having afirst length measured in the direction of the track; the object havingat least one second rail configured to align with the at least one firstrail, the at least one second rail carrying a plurality of secondpermanent magnets oriented to oppose the polarity of the permanentmagnets in the corresponding first rail such that the object levitatesabove the track, each second permanent magnet having a second lengthmeasured in the direction of the track, the second length beingdifferent from the first length; a third rail made from anelectroconductive material, the third rail extending the length of thetrack; and at least 2 pair of discs coupled to the object to rotateabout a rotary axis with respect to the object, each of the discs havinga plurality of permanent magnets spaced about the respective rotaryaxis, each of the discs being positionable with a portion thereof inclose proximity to the third rail and being controllably rotatable inthe presence of the third rail to create an eddy current between thepermanent magnets in the discs and the electroconductive material of thethird rail to accelerate and decelerate the object with respect to thetrack.
 38. The system of claim 37 wherein the plurality of first railscomprises two first rails.
 39. The system of claim 37 wherein each ofthe plurality of first permanent magnets in the first rail is in contactwith the adjacent first permanent magnets in the respective first rail.40. The system of claim 37 wherein a lateral dimension of the firstpermanent magnets is different from a corresponding lateral dimension ofthe second permanent magnets.
 41. The system of claim 37 wherein alateral dimension of the first permanent magnets is smaller than acorresponding lateral dimension of the second permanent magnets.
 42. Thesystem of claim 37, further comprising a ferrous keeper member incontact with the plurality of first permanent magnets in the at leastone first rail.
 43. The system of claim 37, further comprising a firstferrous keeper member in contact with the plurality of first permanentmagnets and a second ferrous keeper member in contact with the secondplurality of permanent magnets.
 44. The system of claim 37, furthercomprising a ferrous keeper member in contact with the plurality offirst permanent magnets, the keeper member being positioned on a surfaceof the first permanent magnets furthest from the upper surface of therail.
 45. The system of claim 37, further comprising a ferrous keeperand an electroconductive cover the at least one first rail, the keeperbeing in contact with the first permanent magnets and being positionedof a surface of the first permanent magnets furthest from the uppersurface of the rail, the cover being positioned over the upper surfaceof the first rail.
 46. The system of claim 37, further comprising guidemembers coupled to the track and the object to maintain the objectaligned with the track.
 47. The system of claim 37, further comprisingguide members coupled to the track and complementary rollers coupled tothe object to maintain the object aligned with the track.
 48. The systemof claim 37, further comprising rollers coupled to the object, therollers being spaced apart by a gap from the rails maintain the objectaligned with the track.
 49. The system of claim 37 wherein the thirdrail is in the form of an elongated plate and the rotary axis is atleast substantially perpendicular to the plate.
 50. The system of claim37 wherein each of the discs is movably coupled to the object tocontrollably move between an engaged position in which the permanentmagnets in the disc are proximate the third rail, and a disengagedposition in which the permanent magnets in the disc are spaced apartfrom the third rail by a distance sufficient to at least substantiallyeliminate the eddy current therebetween.